Wrong Kind of Paradise by Suzie Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

Gretchen, and
    why had she left before she’d taken her gold?
    Tiny hairs prickled at the back of Angel’s neck and a chill raced along her spine. Harry sent a
    birdcall up waiting for her response to let them know she was safe. She didn’t send it. For whatever
    reason, something didn’t feel right.
    Shadows danced along the walls and she studied each one. She waited with bated breath for
    something to happen, some movement or sound to alert her to the sign of an intruder.
    Awareness raced over her flesh. She grabbed the hilt of her sword and reached for her musket with
    the other. Easing over into the dark corner out of the light, she moved along the wall. Watching the
    shadows skip across the room, she felt the presence of someone watching her. She melted back into the
    dark and held her breath.
    Her heart pummeled her ribs and her palms grew moist.
    The second birdcall drifted up from below.
    A shuffling of movement sounded from the alleyway as her men prepared to come up. Then she saw
    the commander lying in the middle of the ragged mattress in the opposite corner of the room asleep, and
    she let out a deep sigh. She’d been searching for ghosts and ghouls where there were none.
    Angel stepped forward to cross the room and bind the commander in ropes. A set of hands seized
    her from the shadows, knocking the musket from her hand. Her stomach heaved. A hand clamped over her
    mouth as an arm wrapped around her waist in a vise, dragging her against the large frame of a man.
    She’d been duped.
    She’d kill Gretchen for setting her up like this.
    Her fingers clawed at the forearm, since her arms were pinned to her sides and movement was
    limited. Damn. Her sword merely swung harmlessly back and forth as the odd position prevented her
    from using it.
    Was this where she would die?
    A breath rushed across her ear. “Call them down, Angel.”
    She relaxed. Her breath whooshed from her but her heart tripped in her chest. Blac. He’d come for
    her. Somehow she’d known he would.
    The hand eased the severe hold but didn’t move away. “I’m going to free your mouth, and I want
    you to call to Bruno and let him know you’re safe. Understand?” The hand tightened once more. “My men
    are scattered all over this room, the brothel, even in the streets. The four of you are outnumbered. It would
    be a foolish mistake to resist. You’d hate to be the cause of their deaths, wouldn’t you?”
    Would he really kill men he’d known for years? Could she really risk it? Bruno and her father’s
    men were all she had left in life. She would never risk their lives.
    Angel nodded. He released her mouth but not his hold around her waist. Instead the arm tightened,
    and the length of him pressed against her backside, igniting a spark of heat. The strength of his body
    scattered tingles along her skin. She tilted her head to the side to view him from the corner of her eye.
    “You would kill the men you’ve known half your life, Captain Barclay?”
    He stared down at her. “Yes, to prevent you from committing this foolish mistake. I would.” He
    lowered his head to her shoulder and buried his face into her loosened hair. “I only do this for you, Angel.
    And Logan.”
    She stiffened at the mention of her father. “And yet, you were the one who came to arrest him.” She
    frowned. “Do not whisper words of guilt and affection now.” She pulled from him, and he let her go.
    Moving closer to the window, she let out a soft birdcall as her hand eased to her waistband, retrieving her
    dagger.
    Facing him, she found he’d followed close behind. They stood toe-to-toe. One of his large hands
    reached up to caress her cheek. “Whatever happened that day or didn’t happen is over. We’re here now,
    and I can’t let you go through with this foolish scheme.”
    “You can’t stop me, Blac.”
    “I already have, Miss De’haviland.”
    “For now,” she agreed. “Always expect the unexpected, remember?”
    She eased the tip of